my sole

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "my sole" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that is the only one of its kind or the only option available to the speaker. Example: "My sole purpose in life is to help others achieve their dreams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Groupon was, effectively, my sole currency".

The New York Times

My sole talent is hope.

The Guardian - Opinion

That was my sole focus.

The Washington Post

That was my sole duty.

The New York Times

My studies had become my sole preoccupation.

The New Yorker

"Henceforth that will be my sole negation".

The Guardian - Books

"My sole goal was to bring people back downtown".

The New York Times

My sole concern was to recover the pleasure of playing.

The Guardian - Sport

My sole responsibility is to get players here.

The New York Times - Sports

He'd claimed my sole view of the ocean.

The New Yorker

In memory of my sole mate, Ron Rosenfeld.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a more casual tone, consider using "my only" as a more common alternative to "my sole".

Common error

Avoid using "my sole" in very informal contexts. It can sound overly formal or even pretentious in casual conversation; opt for "my only" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my sole" functions as a possessive determiner followed by a noun, modifying the noun to indicate that something is the speaker's only one. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness. Examples from Ludwig show it used to emphasize a unique focus, aim, or responsibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "my sole" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote something that is uniquely one's own, as verified by Ludwig. It's most commonly found in news and media, academic writing, and business contexts. While interchangeable with "my only" in many situations, "my sole" carries a slightly more formal tone. As noted by Ludwig AI, "my sole" should be used thoughtfully to avoid sounding pretentious in casual settings. Always consider your audience and the context when choosing between "my sole" and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

my only

Replaces "sole" with "only", maintaining the meaning of being the single one, but with slightly less emphasis.

my single

Emphasizes the singular nature of something, similar to "only" but with a focus on it being one.

my unique

Highlights the distinctiveness and one-of-a-kind nature, shifting the focus from just being the only one to being special.

my exclusive

Implies limited access or belonging to only the speaker, suggesting a privileged position.

my solitary

Focuses on the isolated or unaccompanied nature, emphasizing the lack of others involved.

my one and only

Intensifies the exclusivity, commonly used in affectionate or romantic contexts.

my distinct

Emphasizes clarity in differentiation. Useful when clarity in identification matters more than sheer exclusivity.

my particular

Emphasizes a specific association to the speaker, slightly weaker in exclusivity than "sole".

my personal

Shifts the focus to individual ownership or connection, rather than strict exclusivity.

my own

Highlights possession and individual agency, often used to express independence.

FAQs

How can I use "my sole" in a sentence?

You can use "my sole" to indicate your only focus, concern, or possession. For example, "My sole aim is to improve the team's performance."

What can I say instead of "my sole"?

You can use alternatives like "my only", "my single", or "my unique" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "my sole focus was" or "my only focus was"?

Both "my sole focus was" and "my only focus was" are grammatically correct, but "my sole focus was" is slightly more formal. Use "my only focus" in more casual settings.

What's the difference between "my sole reason" and "my main reason"?

"My sole reason" indicates that there is absolutely no other reason, while "my main reason" implies that it is the primary reason, but other reasons might exist. "My sole reason" is more emphatic.